Our Impact
The Health Justice Program improves health by tackling the legal and social issues that harm it. We assist hundreds of patients at the St. Michael’s Hospital Academic Family Health Team (SMH FHT) with legal information, advice, and advocacy.
🩺 Client Services
We provide legal information, system navigation, and brief services for approximately 300 SMH FHT patients per year across a wide range of legal issues.
Featured publication:
Drozdzal G., Shoucri R., Macdonald J., Radford K., Pinto A.D., & Persaud N. (2019). Integrating legal services with primary care: The Health Justice Program. Canadian Family Physician, 65(4), 246-248.
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🎓 Legal Education
🧩 Systemic Advocacy and Research
Our systemic advocacy and project work address the social determinants of health, grounded in community engagement and evidence-based practice.
Featured publication:
Shah N., Radford K., Durant S., Shoucri R., Stone J., Persaud N., & Pinto A.D. (2024). Advocating for Policy Change: Examples Emerging From a Medical–Legal Partnership in Primary Care. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 35(1), 8–17. Johns Hopkins University Press.
Read publication ›
🌱 Program Goals
🩺 Client Services
We provide legal information, system navigation, and brief services for approximately 300 SMH FHT patients per year across a wide range of legal issues.
Featured publication:
Drozdzal G., Shoucri R., Macdonald J., Radford K., Pinto A.D., & Persaud N. (2019). Integrating legal services with primary care: The Health Justice Program. Canadian Family Physician, 65(4), 246-248.
Read article ›
🎓 Legal Education
- Textbook: Health-Harming Legal Needs: A Guide for Primary Care Providers in Canada (University of Toronto Press, 2025).
- U of T Health Justice Externship (2021–present): recognized with the Arbor Award (2023).
- TMU Law – Integrated Practice Curriculum (2019–present).
- Health Justice Tuesdays (2019).
🧩 Systemic Advocacy and Research
Our systemic advocacy and project work address the social determinants of health, grounded in community engagement and evidence-based practice.
Featured publication:
Shah N., Radford K., Durant S., Shoucri R., Stone J., Persaud N., & Pinto A.D. (2024). Advocating for Policy Change: Examples Emerging From a Medical–Legal Partnership in Primary Care. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 35(1), 8–17. Johns Hopkins University Press.
Read publication ›
🌱 Program Goals
- Improve access to justice
- Address the social determinants of health and promote health equity
- Strengthen collaboration between legal and health systems
